I was the one who ran the Poser User survey a while back. I published the results of it publically, as well, and I'm about to do another version of it, more involved. The initial results showed that Poser users actually follow the standard industry trends -- that is, they generally keep up with the times. The majority also don't read or use the forums. When they find out about them, the overwhelming majority use them for advice on how to's. The majority of people using Poser will own either version 5 or version 6. They will most likely use P4 or P5, as that's what they are familiar with. Every merchant supports P5/6. Both of them are backwards compatible. Comparatively few of the older, longer term, more established merchants support specific capabilities (material, cloth, and hair) of P5/6. It took four years for Poser 4 to develop the level of support it did -- a level that has yet to be matched by Poser 5 or 6. Unless there is a significant delay in getting Poser 7 out, the community simply won't catch up to that level again, where one program became the standard. Even then, its unlikely, given that D|S is now out and the follow up to it is being developed. The support of Poser 4 will continue for as long as people find the value in doing so. Since the most likely to be using an older version of the software is someone who is a merchant (using the proceeds from their sales to allow them to buy more stuff), the overall push to continue using Poser 4 comes from them. My stuff works in everything. Generally you will get the best result from Poser 5 and 6, as those are what I develop in. The same applies to any merchant. If they develop in one program, they are going to know that program, and generally they are going to use the features available in it. It takes time to learn a program. Time that takes away from their ability to develop, which, especially for those who make their living doing this, affects their ability to make a living. So whether they support P5/6 or not often isn't a matter of choice, but of available time and personal ability to adapt, as opposed to simply deciding to stick with a particular program. Hell, even Jim Burton's doing dynamics -- and the Big Red Guy is ice skating... (... on my pond, of course, using the winter textures available in freestuff at ODF. With plants by Transpond from RDNA. Used the DAZ Freak for a base. Was... er, um, nevermind.)

thou and I, my friend, can, in the most flunkey world, make, each of us, one non-flunkey, one hero, if we like: that will be two heroes to begin with. (Carlyle)